PARIS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Below are company-related news and leading stories from French and Benelux newspapers which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks.
SOCIETE GENERALE
The French state has formed a plan to merge Dexia and Societe Generale, news website Wansquare reported, without saying where it got the information. Contacted by Reuters, Dexia declined to comment on the report, while Societe Generale was not immediately available.
GENFIT
The French biotech company said it could raise capital and would welcome investment by the government's strategic fund as it unveiled "extremely positive results" in trials of a drug for diseases linked to diabetes.
MICHELIN
The French tyre manufacturer wants to double its car tyre production capacity in Brazil, Russia, India and China by 2012, and increase truck tyre production capacity by 40 percent, Les Echos reported.
GEMALTO
The digital security company said it is in exclusive talks with Xiring to acquire its banking activity. The transaction is expected to be completed by year end.
AREVA
The sale of Areva's transmission and distribution (T&D) unit may depend on the revision or inclusion of a clause in the offer made by the French Alstom-Schneider consortium, which links part of the planned payment to T&D's performance, Les Echos reported, citing sources close to the matter.
La Tribune also reported that the government wanted Alstom-Schneider to rethink the performance-related payment clause, saying also that it wanted Toshiba to increase the funds it is putting into the company it has set up to buy the unit if its bid is successful.
The three bids from Alstom-Schneider, GE and Toshiba are due to be examined on Monday by a government committee.
ZODIAC AEROSPACE
The aerospace supplier posted a 5.9 percent rise in 2008/09 operating profit, proposed a dividend of 1 euro a share and predicted its operating margin would decline to about 8 percent this fiscal year.
FLUXYS
Fluxys, the operator of Belgium's network of natural gas pipelines, said on Friday it had raised 350 million euros ($519.8 million) from a bond issue maturing in 2015 and closed it early.
NYRSTAR
Belgian zinc producer says it plans to close the GM Metal plant in France. The financial impact of the closure, affecting 26 workers, was not expected to be material.
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Keywords: MARKETS FRANCE BENELUX/STOCKS =3 PARIS
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